One family car might not be enough

Between work, grocery stores, doctor visits, soccer games, school trips, and those errands we never want to do, one car may not be enough.

"As busy as people are today, they almost have to have two cars,'' said Bob Railsback, Gene Messer Ford general service manager.

Railsback might be right. The Randall County Tax Office reported that 102,094 vehicles were registered in Randall County in 1999. Potter County reported 98,610 vehicles registered for the same period.

But with the many affordable offerings from Detroit this year, buying a second vehicle doesn't have to empty your wallet.

Railsback suggested the Ford Escort ZX2 (Base price: $11,900) or the Ford Ranger XLT (Base price: $13,900). The Ranger delivers an ample and economical 119-horsepower, and the Escort hums at 130-horsepower, he said.

The Ford Taurus is one of the top-selling used cars, Railsback said.

But he said people should buy something that fits their needs. If they plan on hauling a lawn-mower around or towing a trailer, to look at pickups, and if it's people-moving they want, perhaps a mini-van.

"If they're needing something that will sit four people comfortably, this is the car,'' Smith said. And the redesigned, 130-horsepower engine still offers plenty of power.

If you're wanting a second car that will attract attention wherever you go, the Chrysler PT Cruiser (Base price: $15,450) is a good pick. If you can find one, that is.

"They're not building enough of them fast enough,'' said Larry Martin, general manager at Gene Messer Chrysler Jeep, 2614 S. Georgia Street.

He said they already had pre-sold 35 of the retro-cars, but only eight had arrived at the lot.

"Right now, it's kind of a turn and earn,'' Martin said, "The demand is just phenomenal.''

The car has created its own cult, comparable to a Harley Davidson, Martin said.

"Some customers have come in and won't even let us hand-wash the car,'' Martin said. "They want to do it themselves.''

The car is selling for between $17,000 to $18,000, Martin said, and fully loaded costs $21,000.

If you're wanting a second car, but not a new-car price tag, a used car might be your best bet.

"You get a fairly new car at a great price,'' said Jimaine "J'' Westmoreland, a salesman at Pete's Car Smart, 1212 W. Sixth Ave. "Buying a good used car won't get you upside down when you go to purchase another car.''

Shane and Holly Wells were at Pete's Wednesday looking at 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada to replace their second car. The price? $17,995. (Base prices for new Bravadas start at $28,000, said Randy Robertson, sales consultant at the AutoPlex, 4600 Canyon Drive.)

"He wants something he can use for all his sporty stuff,'' Holly Wells said.

Shane said he needed something to carry golf clubs, haul a German shepherd, and tow a dirt bike and snowmobile around.

"Right now, with the gas prices, your small economical cars are the most popular,'' Peters said.

Peters has sold older used cars from his Sixth Avenue lot for more than 15 years. He said the Chevrolet Celebrity, Chevrolet Citation, and Oldsmobile Cutlass - all three no longer produced - were good used cars, for people looking to rebuild their credit, or for people who might not be able to get good interest rates on more expensive new and used cars.